Shoe-clasp



(No Model.)

J. 0. HAMMOND, Jr.

SHOE CLASP.

No. 321,495. Patented July 7, 1885.

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Josnrri o. HAMMOND, JR, or nocitvinrn, CONNECTICUT.

SHOE-CLASP.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,495, dated July 7,18855.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosErn: O. Hamronn, Jr., of Rockville, in the countyof Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented cer tain new anduseful Improvements in Shoe- Clasps, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where-Figure l is aplan view of my improved tongueplate blank ready forbonding to final shape. Fig. 2 is a top view of the tongueplate foldedto grasp the tongue, which is omitted, however, in this view. Fig. 3 isa side view of the tongueplate with tongue in place. Fig. 4 is a planview of the catch-plate blank. Fig. is a plan view of the catch plateblank. with the fastening-spurs bent down. Fig. 6 isaside view of thecatch-plate shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is abottoni view of the clasp withthe tongue and catch-plate engaged, showing the relative position of thespurs and the manner of securing the plates to the straps.

My invention relates to the class of buckles and clasps commonly used onarticles of wearing-apparel, and it is particularly intended to apply tothose clasps used on overshoes of the class known as arctics.

This invention consists in an improved shoeclasp, the tongue-plate andcatch-plate of which are made of metal, each plate having a pluralnumber of integral points or spurs particularly arranged and adapted forfasten ing the rcspectives pieces to the straps or like parts of thearticle bearingthe clasp.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter (4 denotes a tongueplate blank,which is preferably stamped or cut from a sheet of thin metal, and isoblong in 0utline,with a central opening, a, and has on the oppositeends of the blank the projecting points or spurs a. These spurs arepreferably arranged with their broadest part lying widthwisc across theplane of the plate. This blank,in the process of making the clasp,isnext doubled back upon itself in such manner as to form on the frontpart of the doubled plate the projecting arms 2), between which thetongue swings. This tongue 0 is pivotally connected to the plate,preferably by folding the plate upon the pivot or trunnions common tothe tongue, and hold ing the latter, when closed, in the positionillustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The central opening, a, in theblank. is contracted at each end, substantially as shown, for thepurpose of giving to the arms on the front part of the plate when it isfolded about the same degree of elasticity, to strengthen them at theirjunction with the plate and to lighten the structure.

The projections or spurs (f on the blank are bentdownward into aposition substantially at right angles to the plane of the plate, andwhen the latter is doubled to the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the spursstand with a. greater or less distance between them lengthwise of theplate, as shown in Fig. 3. This peculiar arrangement of the spurs orfastening-points at each end of the blank, and the manner of folding theplate so that they are brought quite near each other on the under sideof it, enables them to serve not only as a means for attaching the plateto the shoe, but also for holding the two parts of the folded blankfirmly closed upon each other. This insures the thorough closing of thepivot-socket and holds the tongue against displacement. In order tofasten this portion of the claspthat is, the tongue-plate-to anyarticle, as to the strap (1, the spurs a are pushed through the fabricof the strap and are then bent downward toward each other, asillustrated in Fig. 7, and are clinched 'ilatwise upon the under side ofthe fabric. The points of the spurs in clinching are turned slightlydownward, and when lying with their broadest portion across the strap,and being arranged with an interval or space between them, holdin thestrap very firmly, with no chance of tearing the fabric or of catchinginany fabric against which they may lie.

The catchplate blank 6 illustrated in Fig. 4 is cut from a sheet ofmetal in like manner as the tongue-plate blank, and has the transverseopening 0' for the passage of the tongue of the clasp, and also bearsupon one end projecting spurs c and, cut through the body of the platenear this end, a single spur, e. These spurs are bent downward atsubstantially right angles to the plate when the latter is curved to theform in which it is ordinarily used,and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,and those spurs are used to fasten the catchplate to the strap or fabric(1' in a similar manner, as already explained, of attaching thetongue-platc to the like strap.

I am aware that buckles and like articles have been made which haveprojecting spurs or parts adapted for securing the said articles toarticles of wearing-apparel, and such I do not, broadly, claim.

I claim as my improvement 1. The improved tongue-blank formed of thinmetal, with a central opening contracted at each end, and the sharpenedintegral projections or spurs on each end of the blank, which lie withtheir broadest part Widthwise of the plate, all substantially asdescribed.

2.' In a shoe-clasp, the tongue-plate formed of a single piece of metalfolded back upon itself, with the projecting tongue-holding arms betweenwhich the tongue is pivoted, and with the respective ends of the platebearing the integral spurs broadened at the base and lying widthwiseacross the plane of the plate, in combination with the tongue pivoted tosaid plate, all substantially as described.

3. In a shoe-clasp, in combination with a tongue with its pivot heldbetween the folded parts of the tongue-plate, the tongue-plate formed ofa single piece of metal folded upon

